An East San Jose school district superintendent has recommended closing seven schools and consolidating others.

Following the Alum Rock Union School District Consolidation Committee’s selection of 13 schools to close or consolidate, Superintendent Germán Cerda has narrowed his choices. He is proposing to close Aptitud Community Academy of Goss, Donald J. Meyer Elementary School, Horace Cureton Elementary School, Joseph George Middle School, Lyndale Elementary School, Renaissance Academy of Fischer and Sylvia Cassell Elementary School.

Additionally, Cerda proposes moving LUCHA Academy to San Antonio Elementary School and combining Painter Elementary School with Sheppard Middle School and Millard McCollam Elementary. Students in the Vietnamese Dual Language Immersion program will consolidate with Sheppard Middle School and students in the Structured English Immersion program will attend Millard McCollam Elementary. Under his recommendation, the Chavez Early Learning Center would serve only preschool for children ages 0 and up, with transitional preschool and kindergarten classes moved to San Antonio Elementary School.

The district’s efforts are the result of several factors, including a $20 million budget deficit. Enrollments have fallen from more than 10,000 students in 2015-2016 to an expected 7,270 students in 2024-2025. Declining enrollment and the loss of temporary COVID relief funds have left the district in the red.

Cerda will present its recommendations to the ARUSD Board of Trustees at a public hearing on Nov. 14, with the board making its final decision on Dec. 2. School closures and consolidations will take effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

“Currently, district funds are spread across partially full schools.” Cerda said in a statement. “By consolidating and closing schools, we can reallocate these funds to enhance critical programs and increase academic and enrichment opportunities across the district.”

Parent Christine Villareal, whose comments appear on the district website, agrees. The district has untapped potential and it is important to visualize this for the future, she said. East Side students deserve something great and this process will allow the district to consolidate resources and dream bigger.

Criteria for school closures include an analysis of the district’s equity, enrollment trends, proximity to charter schools, the condition of existing facilities and recent renovations, special programs and the cost savings needed, said ARUSD spokesman Sergio Diaz Luna. Staff cuts will be made across the district to help close the budget gap, he added.

“No one in our community wants to close schools, including me,” Cerda told San José Spotlight. “We will continue to gather feedback and communicate with families throughout this process to identify and minimize disruptions in the transition. Looking ahead, this process is an opportunity to build a better future for ARUSD.”

Contact Lorraine Gabbert at (email protected).